Gas cooler for production of saturated or superheated steam, or both

摘要

A gas cooler and process are provided for extracting heat from the hot raw gas stream from the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous or carbonaceous fuel, and the simultaneous production of a separate stream of saturated or superheated steam, or separate streams of both. The gas cooler comprises a vertical pressure vessel with an upper central outlet through which saturated steam may be removed and a closed bottom. A refractory lined hot gas inlet chamber is attached to the bottom of the pressure vessel. A coaxial vertical water-tight cylindrically shaped central chamber is supported within the vessel and defines an annular elongated passage with the inside walls of the vessel. A plurality of bundles of helical tubes through which the hot gas flows are spaced in the annular passage and are serially connected to a helical bundle of gas tubes that is supported in the central chamber. Concurrent indirect heat exchange between boiler feed water and the hot gas takes place in the annular passage or evaporative section to produce saturated steam. Countercurrent indirect heat exchange between saturated steam and partially cooled gas takes place in the central chamber to produce superheated steam. Advantageously, the gas cooler may be easily turned up or down with load by closing off one or more of the helical tubes. Further, along with the efficient cooling of a hot gas stream containing entrained matter, saturated or superheated steam, or both may be simultaneousy produced in the same vessel.